2010 MLB Predictions: New York Yankees

Written March 9, 2010 by Jack Jones

The New York Yankees started the last decade with a Subway Series victory over the Mets for a championship, and they ended it with an exclamation point by beating the Phillies to win another World Series title in 2009. It was the franchise’s 27th championship, and the Yankees broke in the new $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium in style. In New York, it’s all about winning titles and that’s what they continue to do. It may cost a fortune in payroll, but it’s a winning formula that the Yankees aren’t going to stop doing any time soon. New York didn’t make a huge splash in free-agency this season, but they did add CF Curtis Granderson, 1B Nick Johnson and SP Javier Vasquez to try and make another run at a championship. MLB lines for this team show the Yankees projected win total at 94.5. Looking for a place to place your wagers on the over/under? Turn to BetUS where they are giving away $500 free money to new customers who sign up and deposit $500 or more!

Pitching:

GM Brian Cashman invested $243.5 million on CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett last offseason, and it paid major dividends as the two combined for a 32-17 record while striking out 292 batters in 437 innings. To lighten the load on these guys, the Yankees will welcome back Javier Vasquez who didn’t fare well in his first stint with the team, but who has been a proven winner since. He eats up a ton of innings, going over 208 innings pitched for three straight seasons, which is the main reason they brought in this workhorse. Andy Pettite can still get it done at the age of 37, going 14-8 last season with a 4.16 ERA. He was huge in the postseason, also. It’s up to Phil Hughes are Joba Chamberlain to grab the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but this is the makings of a great starting staff in New York. Mariano Rivera has 223 strikeouts to just 30 walks over the past three years, finishing with at least 30 saves during all three. He may be 40-years old, but Rivera is still one of the most feared closers in the game. Hughes and/or Chamberlain will end up in the bullpen to help close out games along with Alfredo Aceves and company. The Yankees ‘pen finished with a 3.91 ERA last year.

Hitting:

Catcher Jorge Posada came back strong after an injury-plagued 2008 season, finishing with a .285 average and 22 homers with 81 RBI’s in just 383 at-bats last year. The Yankees have one of the best corner infields in the game, with 1B Mark Teixeira and 3B Alex Rodriquez. Teixeira has hit at least .292 with 30 homers and 105 RBI’s in three straight seasons. Rodriquez didn’t join the team until May last year, but hit .286 with 30 homers and 100 RBI’s. He was huge in the postseason, and has to feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off his shoulders after putting the steroids behind him and winning a world championship. 2B Robinson Cano hit .320 with 25 HR, 85 RBI’s and 103 Runs last season in a big bounce-back year. Derek Jeter still can get it done at SS, hitting .334, scoring 107 Runs and finishing with 30 SB’s in one of the best years of his career in ‘09 at 35-years old. 1B/DH Nick Johnson will split time in the field with Teixeira, though you can expect both to be in the line-up almost every day. Johnson is a contact hitter with a great OBP. Starting in the outfield will be Curtis Granderson in center, Nick Swisher in right and Randy Winn in left, who came over from San Francisco. Brett Gardner will also spend time platooning with these three, and his speed will certainly be a factor after stealing 26 bases last season in limited action. Swisher hit 29 homers with 82 RBI last year. Granderson should benefit from a short porch in right at home after hitting 30 homers with 71 RBI’s last season in Detroit.

Jack’s Prediction: 1st in the AL East and OVER 94.5 Wins – Coming off a season in which this team finished with 103 wins, the Yankees aren’t going anywhere. Their starting staff will be just as dominant, and it should actually get a boost from Vasquez. The line-up didn’t suffer much in the offseason with the addition of Granderson, Winn and Johnson, but the losses of Matsui, Damon and even Melky Cabrera could be felt. In the end, this is still the best line-up in baseball and these new players who hadn’t previously won a championship can relax and just play baseball, while the veterans in Jeter, Posada, Rivera and Pettite will keep the team focused and hungry to win another title. This team is not nine games worse than they were a year ago, and they are still the cream of the crop in the AL East.

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